Tipping Doormen In NYC

If you've moved to New York City within the past couple of years, you've probably encountered a few customs that take some getting used to—one of them is tipping your building's doormen. Whether you're in a high-rise rental or a co-op with a full-service staff, tipping the people who keep your building running smoothly is a long-standing tradition in the city.

For many New Yorkers, especially around the holiday season, tipping isn't just a kind gesture—it's expected. But if you're new here, you might be wondering: How much should I tip? When is the right time to do it? What if I just moved in, or I'm renting temporarily?

This guide breaks down the essentials of tipping doormen in NYC, so you can show appreciation without second-guessing yourself—and settle into city life like a local.

What Do Doormen Actually Do?

Doormen are often the first people you see when you enter your building. Their duties can vary from place to place, but typically include greeting residents, announcing guests, helping with packages, monitoring security cameras, calling cabs, opening doors, and assisting with deliveries. In full-service buildings, they often work alongside porters, handymen, and supers to keep the building running smoothly.

The level of service they provide—and how often you interact with them—can be a big factor in how much you choose to tip.

When Should You Tip?

The most common tipping time is during the holiday season—usually mid-December through the end of the year. This is when most residents hand out envelopes with cash or small gifts as a token of appreciation.

You might also tip outside of the holidays for extra help. For instance, if a doorman helps you with luggage, coordinates a delivery, or assists during a move, a small cash tip at the time is a nice gesture.

Think of it as similar to tipping at a restaurant—when someone goes above and beyond, it's appreciated to acknowledge it.

How Much Should You Tip?

Tipping building staff is similar to tipping in a resturant in the United States. You don’t have to, but it is expected and you should tip. There’s no fixed rule on how much to tip. Like at a resturant, the best way to calculate how much to tip is to take a percentage of your monthly rent or your monthly building fees and use that as a basis. Starting with 20-25% of your rent/fees is a good amount for the total number to tip. Take that and divide it between different workers in your building. If you only have a handful of workers in your building you can tip a bit less. We have a handly Holiday Tipping Calculator to start you off with.

If your building has a large staff, many residents tip each person individually or contribute to a collective pool arranged by a tenant association. Renters are not exempt—most tip as well, though possibly on a smaller scale than owners.

Even if you're on a tight budget, you should still tip. If you rent you have to follow the 40x income rule to get your place, which means you should be able to aford to tip. If you don't think you can spare an extra 20% of rent once a year, you are probably living beyond your means and should look to cut back on living expenses.

Tipping Etiquette and Best Practices

Use clearly labeled envelopes for holiday tips, and if you want you can include a brief note or card expressing your appreciation. Cash is strongly preferred to prepaid gift cards.

If you're not sure who’s who, ask your building’s super or management for a staff list. It’s also smart to start keeping notes throughout the year about who helps you most.

If you’ve just moved in during the holidays, a small tip with a holiday card introducing yourself is a great way to start things off on the right foot.

Cookies and other treats are nice, but if you are in a large building your doormen are getting a ton of these. While they are nice, cookies are no substitute for cash. Would you tip your resturant server with a cookie? (The answer is no you would not!)